Prominent Businessman's Wife Killed in Tragic Robbery at Newport Beach Mall

Newport Beach, California United States of America
Doug McKay bravely jumped in front of his wife, but she was run over by the suspect's vehicle and killed at the scene.
McCrary had a previous record of armed robbery in Santa Monica but was placed on probation instead of serving prison time.
Prominent businessman Doug McKay's wife Patricia McKay was killed during an attempted robbery at Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach, California on July 2, 2024.
The suspects fled north toward Los Angeles with speeds up to 110mph. They have been identified as Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, Malachi Eddward Darnell, and Jaden Cunningham.
Two suspects approached the couple with guns. One put a gun to Doug McKay's head and forced him to the ground. The other tried to take Patricia McKay's shopping bags and dragged her into the street.
Prominent Businessman's Wife Killed in Tragic Robbery at Newport Beach Mall

In the upscale shopping area of Newport Beach, California, on July 2, 2024, a tragic incident occurred that resulted in the death of Patricia 'Trish' McKay. The wife of Doug McKay, a prominent businessman and former chair of Bank of New Zealand and Auckland Council in New Zealand, was killed during an attempted robbery at Fashion Island mall.

According to various sources, including the Orange County District Attorney's Office and local news outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, two men approached Doug and Patricia McKay outside the shopping center with guns. One of them put a gun to Doug McKay's head and forced him to the ground. The other suspect attempted to take Patricia McKay's shopping bags, dragging her into the street in the process.

Doug McKay bravely jumped in front of his wife to protect her, but unfortunately, she was run over by the suspect's vehicle and killed at the scene. The suspects then fled north toward Los Angeles with speeds up to 110mph.

The three men involved in this incident have been identified as Leroy Ernest Joseph McCrary, Malachi Eddward Darnell, and Jaden Cunningham. McCrary had a previous record of armed robbery in Santa Monica but was placed on probation instead of serving prison time.

The tragic event left the McKay family and friends in shock. Doug McKay released a statement expressing his sadness, while New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to Patricia McKay on social media.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of personal safety and the potential consequences of criminal activities.



Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if any witnesses came forward to provide additional information.
  • The sources for the story are not explicitly stated.

Sources

100%

  • Unique Points
    • A prominent New Zealand couple, Doug and Patricia ‘Trish’ McKay, were targeted and attacked by suspected robbers at a shopping center in California on July 2.
    • Ms McKay, 68, was killed when she was dragged under a car during the incident. Three suspects have been charged with murder.
    • Doug McKay is a prominent businessman and banker in New Zealand. He was the first CEO of the Auckland Council and former chair of the Bank of New Zealand.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

82%

  • Unique Points
    • Leroy Ernest McCrary, 26, is accused of killing Patricia ‘Trish’ McKay, 68, during an attempted robbery at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island mall.
    • McCrary had been placed on probation for stealing a Rolex at gunpoint in Santa Monica.
    • He avoided prison time in the Santa Monica case after Los Angeles County prosecutors agreed to a three-year suspended sentence.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position about the LA County prosecutors agreeing to a lenient sentence for Leroy Ernest McCrary in a previous robbery case. The article does not mention any context or justification for why the prosecutors may have made this decision, nor does it consider any potential mitigating factors. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through the use of phrases like 'renewing interest' and 'ending in killing', which are intended to elicit strong emotions from readers.
    • McCrary now faces a special circumstances murder charge that could carry the death penalty after authorities allege he ran over Patricia ‘Trish’ McKay, 68, during a July 2 robbery attempt.
    • The Fashion Island slaying is renewing interest in the 2022 Rolex theft.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting the district attorney's office stating that 'the management team ... authorized a plea offer that allowed [him] to be placed on probation with a suspended state prison sentence.' This statement is used as evidence of the handling of the Santa Monica case having 'significant problems with proof.' However, this does not directly demonstrate a fallacy. The author also mentions that two witnesses were unable to identify the suspects and that prosecutors were unable to identify the item in the suspect's hands or conduct a confirmatory DNA test on the robbery victim's shirt. These statements suggest an appeal to ignorance, as they imply that because certain pieces of evidence were not available, the case was weak. However, this is not a definitive fallacy as there could be valid reasons for these missing pieces of evidence. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that 'Detractors of L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascón say the case’s handling is further evidence of the mismanagement of the nation’s largest prosecutor’s office.' This statement is not directly related to any fallacy and serves only to inflame emotions.
    • The management team ... authorized a plea offer that allowed [him] to be placed on probation with a suspended state prison sentence.
    • Detractors of L.A. County Dist. Atty. George Gascón say the case’s handling is further evidence of the mismanagement of the nation’s largest prosecutor’s office.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

  • Unique Points
    • A group of Los Angeles thugs targeted the prominent couple, Doug and Patricia McKay, outside an upscale Newport Beach mall on July 2.
    • One of the suspects put a gun to Doug McKay’s head and forced him to the ground.
    • Another suspect dragged Patricia McKay into the street, trying to take her shopping bags.
    • Doug McKay jumped in front of the vehicle to protect his wife, but it ran over her and killed her.
    • The suspects fled north toward Los Angeles with speeds up to 110mph.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article contains a few inflammatory rhetorical statements and appeals to authority, but no formal or informal fallacies were found in the author's assertions. The inflammatory language is directed at the criminal justice system and political figures rather than the victims or suspects, so it does not qualify as a dichotomous depiction. The examples provided are direct quotations from the article.
    • Our shopping centers and malls have become hunting grounds for criminals who are stalking innocent shoppers to rob them blind because our Governor and our Legislature refuse to hold anyone accountable for their actions.
    • Frankly, to hell with these guys... These are thugs. Every community is now dealing with this. We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • California prosecutors plan to consider the death penalty for the men involved in the robbery attempt that resulted in the death of Patricia McKay.
    • Two men approached Patricia and Doug McKay outside the shopping center with guns.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • Patricia (Trish) McKay and her husband, Douglas, were attacked by an armed robbery crew after leaving Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach.
    • 'Doug' McKay was a former chair of Bank of New Zealand and a prominent energy and business executive who served as the first chief executive of Auckland Council.
    • 'Trish' McKay was killed when she was dragged under a car during the incident.
    • 'Douglas McKay jumped in front of the vehicle to protect his wife, but it ran over her and killed her.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an example of a dichotomous depiction and an appeal to authority. The dichotomous depiction is the portrayal of Newport Beach as a safe city for tourists, contrasted with the violent crime that occurred there. The appeal to authority is the inclusion of statements from Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer expressing outrage over the crime and emphasizing that lawlessness and violence will not be tolerated in society.
    • Newport Beach, a hot spot for upscale tourists and deemed one of the region’s safer cities...
    • Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said he was particularly outraged that the crime occurred at a landmark shopping mall.
    • Our entire community extends its deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Patricia McKay and to the entire country of New Zealand as we mourn her senseless death in the commission of a crime that should have never happened.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication